Sata accuses Western envoys of meddling

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Lusaka - Zambia's president Michael Sata on Thursday warned Western diplomats against meeting opposition leaders, saying such acts amount to meddling in the country's internal affairs, state radio said on Thursday.

Zambian opposition parties on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting with European Union head of delegation Gilles Hervio. Details of the meeting were not disclosed.

"We do not do it in Europe, and why should they do it here? I am therefore directing the minister of foreign affairs to address the issue of diplomats meddling in internal affairs of the country," Sata said on state radio.

"When diplomats start entertaining opposition leaders, we take strong exception against their decisions," he said.

Opposition leaders had expressed concern over Sata's decision to appoint Malawian judge Lovemore Chikopa to head a tribunal set up to investigate the conduct of three local judges suspended for alleged professional misconduct.

Since winning last year's election, Sata has launched a broad crackdown on corruption, which his predecessor Rupiah Banda's allies say unfairly targets the previous government.

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